December 22, 2006: Ambergris

Katkeeper sends along this item which was highlighted in a NY Times story. What the lady there is holding is, apparently, ambergris -- a waxy substance whales will occasionally puke up or crap out, or which is found in their gut when they're killed.

Ms. Ferreira, shown above, was given this chunk by her sister. They are not sure that it is actually Ambergris. If it is, the blob will be worth $18,000, the story suggests. It's valuable because it's used in some of the most expensive product on the earth by weight: perfume. Apparently it can "fix" the scent of a perfume, allowing it to linger longer instead of evaporating.

Scientists think whales produce this stuff when they swallow sharp objects. They coat the objects with it so their insides aren't hurt. Like grit to an oyster's pearl, I suppose.

So, somewhere, evil perfume scientists are feeding razor blades to caged whales?

Her sister hates her. It's years of hardened pickings from the underside of her couch.

Blech SG. Seriously, ugh.

I can envision an expensive game of Fear Factor.

I think the aliens came early.

That's just snot. Hey, Waitaminnit ... IT'S FRIDAY. Although an animal may be peripherally involved, that is neither cute, nor furry, nor both.

Aw crap! The holiday season threw me off.

wolf wrote:

That's just snot. Hey, Waitaminnit ... IT'S FRIDAY. Although an animal may be peripherally involved, that is neither cute, nor furry, nor both.

Nor edible . . . I hope.

Undertoad wrote:

Aw crap! The holiday season threw me off.

That's strike one.

CaliforniaMama wrote:

Nor edible . . . I hope.

"Eggs and ambergris was Charles II's favorite dish," observed Martin...

from p94 of Patrick O'Brien's "The Far Side of the World" which I happened to be reading this morning.

Ick. Further proof that being royalty will make you whacky.

Sundae Girl wrote:

Her sister hates her. It's years of hardened pickings from the underside of her couch.

Why else would she be holding it at arms length?

“If it really does have value, I’m not silly, of course I’d want to sell it,” Ms. Ferreira said as she looked out past her lace curtains and picket fence at the whitecaps on the bay. “This could be my retirement.”

But endangered species legislation has made buying or selling the stuff illegal since the 1970s; a couple who found a large lump of ambergris valued at almost $300,000 on an Australian beach in January has had legal problems selling it.

Well, it seems to me, if it's illegal to sell, it could be her retirement.......at least free room and board. :mg:

astearns wrote:

"Eggs and ambergris was Charles II's favorite dish," observed Martin...

from p94 of Patrick O'Brien's "The Far Side of the World" which I happened to be reading this morning.

:vomit:

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

“If it really does have value, I’m not silly, of course I’d want to sell it,” Ms. Ferreira said as she looked out past her lace curtains and picket fence at the whitecaps on the bay. “This could be my retirement.”

Gotta love those Portuguese. Pragmatic and bizarre all at the same time.

And this thing about WHALES!

My aunt gives me this video of her trip to the Azores. The whole thing is watching a whale get slaughtered. Oh, yeah, just the kind of travel video I'd watch over and over. NOT.:bolt:

I wanna' lick it.

More like: :repuke:

i think i remember this stuff being described in detail in moby dick, a book i had to suffer through for summer reading

I have read it, about, five times and it gets better every time.
I almost had a second ed. but it was purchased out from under me a day before I could get it.

footfootfoot wrote:

Why else would she be holding it at arms length?

In it's natural state it stinks to high heaven.